Nissar H. Gilani
Incidents of road rage on a busy Gulmarg, Magam Srinagar road some days before left every one of us shocked.
The event occurred when more than halfadozen motor bike-borne vagabonds armed with sticks, were performing dangerous stunts on the busy road. Passers-by who were watching these rowdies pleaded them to stop this nonsense, as they may get hurt in the process or even get killed, besides hurting pedestrians as well.
As this all was happening a lady advocate along with her infant child returning from Gulmurg in a vehicle who dared to make a video filming of these goons while performing life threatening stunts was attacked and beaten up. She as per her statement pleaded for sparing her infant child. The driver of the vehicle without losing orientation straight drove to police station Parimporaand reported the matter to concerned station house officer who promptly registered an F.I.R/complaint, following which in a swift move police set out for a major crackdown in which nine youths were arrested for performing dangerous stunts and harassing people. All are booked under relevant sections of the law. Police personals involved in this surgical strike against these rowdies is highly appreciated.
For most motorcycle/biking enthusiasts, stunting may be one of the many related hobbies worth indulginginbut as a professional and responsible rider, however, always practices and perform stunts anywhere but on public roads and heavy traffic. Most stunt riders do not make their rides dance just to appear cool but for the immense pleasure and sense of command when the bikes are under their full control. But unfortunate some of our youths perform antics on busy public roads posing a life threat. These rowdies performing stunts on public roads with traffic, they put themselves and other road user to great risk. I have seen most of them do not even use basic riding gear like helmets or gloves, leave alone riding boots or jackets. Some of them at times try to balance their bikes with limbs, leaving their handsfree, even using mobile phones during the riding.
Number of two wheeler rider fatalities due to these sense less stunts increase day in andday out.
Every year, approximately 1.5 lakh people die on India roads, which translate, on an average, into 1130 accidents and 18 deaths every hour. According to the annual report prepared by the traffic department of J&K police, number of accidents in the year 2020have gone to 805 from 774 in 2021. So this surge in the number of road accidents need to be halted. What every the reasons we need to ponder on these grave issue and find ways to avert the causes, be it distracted driving, such as fiddling the car’s radio, eating, use of mobile reckless driving, automobile defects, drunk driving, senseless stunts, etc. everything unnecessary can wait yet your life will never be refundable.
Nissar H. Gilani can be reached at nisargilani57748@gmail.om
